BERLIN — German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has issued one of his strongest warnings yet, sharply criticizing U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump and cautioning the world against allowing the global order to collapse.
Speaking at a symposium late Wednesday, Steinmeier urged nations to act before the international system turns into what he described as a “den of robbers”—a world where the powerful take what they want and rules no longer matter.
It was an unusually blunt message.
And it carried weight.
While the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s words resonate deeply. As a former foreign minister, he speaks with experience—and with a freedom few active politicians have.
In his remarks, Steinmeier warned that global democracy is under attack like never before, pointing to recent international events that have shaken trust and stability.
He described Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a historic turning point.
But he did not stop there.
According to Steinmeier, the behavior of the United States—long seen as a pillar of the global system—now represents a second historic rupture.
“There is the breakdown of values by our most important partner, the USA,” he said.
“The same country that helped build this world order.”
His concern was clear—and urgent.
“This is about preventing the world from becoming a den of robbers,” Steinmeier said,
“where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers.”
The warning comes as trust in the United States continues to erode among Germans.
A new poll released Thursday by public broadcaster ARD shows that 76% of Germans now believe the U.S. is no longer a reliable partner—up three percentage points since June 2025.
Only 15% said Germany could trust the United States, the lowest level ever recorded in the survey.
In contrast, nearly three-quarters of respondents said they still trust France and Britain.
The survey also revealed growing anxiety across the continent.
About 69% of Germans expressed concern about Europe’s security, and a similar number said NATO allies can no longer rely on protection from the United States—still the alliance’s strongest member.
For Steinmeier, the message is unmistakable.
Without shared values, rules, and responsibility, the world risks sliding into chaos—
one power grab at a time.
And once that happens, rebuilding trust may be far harder than losing it.
